They are all “hyper” conditions. Asthma presents as
hypersensitivity of the bronchial airways; Allergies is a hypersensitive immune
reaction; and ADHD as hyperactivity.

Three different symptoms of the body not being well, but the
underlying factors are similar. Our health depends on various conditions to be
healthy. When there is a diet lacking in nutritional value combined with lack
of exercise yet high mental-emotional stresses and physical injury fueling our
bodies, then naturally we become unhealthy. Our body engines cannot handle this
input any longer, and it wants to eliminate these unhealthy factors. As a
result, it reacts in a ‘hyper’ way. We thus develop Asthma, Allergies, ADHD and
possibly a host of other conditions such as IBS, depression, eczema, psoriasis,
anxiety, weight gain, arthritis, digestive problems and the list goes on.

When we become exposed to all these factors repetitively
from childhood, our health may be affected earlier on. If these contributing
factors are introduced while in the womb, it may seem as if we were “born with
it”. Or we stay free from symptoms in childhood while our bodies continually
fight to protect our health. But then as adults, the body just cannot handle
the stressors anymore and symptoms appear as if ‘they happened overnight’.
Actually they are an accumulation over the years of improper care.

The Underlying Factor

The important point to consider in treating these conditions
is to address the underlying cause instead of simply masking the condition
further. This may actually lead to more chronic conditions down the road. Only
by understanding what is at the root of the problem will help in clearing these
hyperactive conditions.

The most common underlying factor in these three conditions
is an allergy/sensitivity to foods (or the additives in foods) and the
environment. Pesticides in fruits and vegetables, repetitive eating of the same
foods, ingesting commonly ‘allergic’ foods and refined products are part of the
problem. As a result, the foods we eat do not provide the vital nutrients
needed so that we become very deficient in the vitamins and minerals essential
to stay healthy. Environmental and household chemicals also contribute to part
of the problem. What happens then is a ‘toxic’ build up of chemicals in the
body. Not only is there a ‘toxic’ build up in our bodies, but the deficiency of
vital nutrients in the body also weakens the detoxification pathways. As such
we are unable to clean out our systems as efficiently and effectively as
possible. All these ‘toxins’ are foreign to the body. Therefore the immune
system does not recognize them as its own and thus will react and ‘fight back’,
resulting in a ‘hyper’ reaction.

Treatment

Naturopathic Medicine strives to address the root of the
problem on an individualized basis.In
these cases, regulation of the ‘hyper’ inflammatory pathways is vital. To start
off, it is important to eliminate foods that increase the inflammatory pathways
causing this ‘hyper’ reaction, while increasing foods that can inhibit these
pathways. At the same time, any environmental allergies should be addressed as
well.

Once these external factors are eliminated, the ‘toxins’ in
your body will have a chance to clear out as well. This will now give your body
the chance to heal itself. During this process, various remedies such as
nutritional supplementation, herbal formulas and homeopathics may be required
in order to help moderate and stabilize the ‘hyper’ reactions. The most common
nutritional deficiencies in Asthma, Allergies and ADHD are some of the
B-vitamins, magnesium as well as essential fatty acids (EFAs). In addition, it
is important to incorporate a balanced exercise regimen along with addressing
factors such as stress and other mental-emotional concerns. Every individual is
different and the specific recommendations relating to requirements and dosages
should be advised and supervised under the care of your Naturopathic Doctor.